alps - polio epic · 2018-08-30 · disability empowerment center in phoenix. saturday, december...
TRANSCRIPT
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 1
ALPS
Volume 1, Issue 2 ARIZONA LEAGUE OF POLIO SURVIVORS AUG & SEPT 2012
WHAT ISSUES MAKE YOUR VOTE IMPORTANT? Bills that matter to the disability community. Here are some of the important disability related issues that you can use to select a candidate. Ask the candidates or their Staff if they will oppose or support the following bills/issues: Arizona legislators: healthcare – will they vote to use the affordable care act to expand Medicaid coverage in Arizona? (see page 8.) Next year, when the one cent sales tax goes away, Arizona will face a budget shortfall. What programs will they cut to meet budget needs or will they raise funds in some other way to preserve the health and human service programs we have? Congressional issues ADA in danger! Your civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are at stake. There have been several Bills introduced this congressional session that threaten to weaken our civil rights under the ADA. Even worse, several of our Arizona congressmen have sponsored or co-sponsored these bills: H.R. 4200 - to amend the Americans with disabilities act of 1990 to prohibit the attorney general from administering Or enforcing certain accessibility regulations relating to pools at public accommodations or provided by public. This bill Was introduced March 16, 2012, by AZ representative David Schweikert (D-17) and co-sponsors Arizona representatives Paul Gosar, Ben Quayle and Trent Franks of
Arizona. It has 19 co-sponsors. It has been referred to the committee on Judiciary’s subcommittee crime, terrorism, and homeland security. H.R. 4256 - pool safety and accessibility for everyone (pool safe) act directs the attorney general to revise certain Rules under titles ii and iii of the Americans with disabilities act of 1990 relating to accessible means of entry to pools. It has 74 co-sponsors including Arizona representatives David Schweikert, Trent Franks, Ben Quayle and Jeff Flake. The bill Was introduced march 26, 2012, and has been referred to the committee on judiciary, subcommittee on constitution. H.R. 6061, the WIPA and PABSS Continuation of Services Act of 2012- Social Security Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) services and related protection and advocacy (PABSS) – this program has helped people on SSI and SSDI understand how employment affects their cash and medical benefits and helps them use available work incentives to Ease the transition back to work. This program has not been funded as of 6/30/12 because congress failed to reauthorize It. SSA rules are complicated and this expertise is still needed. This is urgent. Programs are shutting down all across the country. This bill will permanently reauthorize the program. Ask the candidates if they will co-sponsor this bill now.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 2
H.R. 3423 and s. 1872. The Able Act – the achieving a better life experience act. Encourages and assists individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with Disabilities to maintain health, independence, and quality of life. The legislative intent is to provide secure funding for Disability-related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities, will supplement, but not replace, benefits Provided through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security income program, the beneficiary’s Employment, and other sources. Ask candidates to co-sponsor this bill. Referred to house subcommittee on health November 2011. H.R. 3423 has 168 house co-sponsors – none from Arizona!!! S. 1872 has 21 senate co-sponsors – none from Arizona!!! The SSI Savers Act of 2011 (H.R. 2103) would help low-income seniors and people with disabilities through work Incentives, increasing personal savings and helps them achieve the financial self-reliance they need to escape poverty and Transition off of federal assistance. This bill was referred to the subcommittee on human resources of the house ways And means committee on June 6, 2011. No action since. H.R. 2103 has 10 house co-sponsors - none from Arizona!!! All federally supported programs are at risk: due to budget deficits, and depending upon who is elected to us Congress and the us senate: health and education, social security, vocational rehabilitation, independent living centers (ABIL included), housing and human services all face cuts. “Vote as if your life depends on it, because it does!” - Justin Dart -
The Bridge - August 2012 7
Polio eradication this week :Security incident in
Pakistan: On the morning of 17 July 2012, a
serious security incident took place in Gadap
Town, Karachi, Pakistan. One World Health
Organization (WHO) staff member and one
international consultant were injured when their
vehicle was shot at by armed men. The WHO
employees are in stable condition. Both men were
supporting the currently-ongoing polio National
Immunization Days (NIDs).
Incidents like these highlight the incredible bravery
of the more than 200,000 mainly Pakistani
volunteers who run every vaccination campaign.
WHO, UNICEF, and all polio partners remain
committed to supporting the Government of
Pakistan and the people of Pakistan in their efforts
to eradicate polio.
KARACHI/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 21 July 2012 – The
World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF
are deeply saddened by the killing of Mr.
Muhammad Ishaq, a local community worker
supported by WHO, who was part of the polio
eradication initiative in Pakistan. Mr. Ishaq was
shot and killed in the Gadap town area of Karachi
on Friday evening. Polio immunization activities
were suspended in this area of Karachi earlier this
week after a shooting incident injured two WHO
staff members who were supporting the
implementation and monitoring of a vaccination
campaign. Until activities were suspended, Mr.
Ishaq had worked with the national polio
eradication effort as a Union Council Polio Worker
for several months, helping to plan and implement
vaccination campaigns to protect the most
underserved and vulnerable children against this
debilitating disease.
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a
virus that can cause permanent paralysis in a matter
of hours. There is no cure, but there are safe and
effective vaccines. Polio can be eradicated if every
child is immunized until transmission stops
worldwide.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 3
POLIO ECHO BOARD MEETINGS
All meetings are open to the public.
Anyone wishing be on the agenda should
notify President Brad Dowden, at (480)
370-8986 in advance.
BOARD MEETINGS:
Are normally held the third Tuesday of
each month at the Disability
Empowerment Center, located at 5025 E.
Washington Street, Phoenix 85094.
Meetings start at 11:30 am and conclude
around 1:30 pm.
2012 MEETING SCHEDULE
October 16, 2012 –11:30-1:30 at the
Disability Empowerment Center in
Phoenix.
November 20, 2012– 11:30– 1:30 at the
Disability Empowerment Center in
Phoenix.
Saturday, December 15, 2012 Annual
Holiday meeting at the Disability
Empowerment Center. This is also the
annual meeting and election of directors
and officers. It will be held in the
Pullium Conference Center with a
luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. The
program will be announced in the next
newsletter. The luncheon cost is partially
subsidized by Polio Echo.
POLIO EPIC BOARD MEETINGS
All meetings are open to the public.
Anyone wishing be on the agenda
should notify any board member in
advance.
BOARD MEETINGS:
Board meetings are normally held the
first Thursday of each month at the
DIRECT Center at 1023 N. Tyndall
Ave., in Tucson.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETINGS:
General membership meetings are held
at 10:00a.m. on the second Saturday of
each month. They are held in the
Education room, at Healthsouth
Rehabilitation Hospital at 2650 N.
Wyatt Rd in Tucson
September 8th -Sue Lemmon, Pima
Council on Aging, on the topic of
"Medicare Fraud".
October 13th – Reeds Compounding
Pharmacy – a unique opportunity to
communicate with a pharmacist that
makes topical prescriptions to order.
NOTE :
December 8th 2012 – new location for
our holiday party. We are moving to
the Hilton Tucson East this year !
The quarterly combined meeting of Polio Epic and Polio Echo will be Saturday, October
27th. The location is in Casa Grande, at Mimi’s Café in the Promenade Shopping Center.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 4
Sizzling Summer Social and Scintillating
Symposium Certainly Significant Stuff for
Syndrome Survivors
On Saturday, June 23, 2012, we held a general meeting of Polio Echo membership and guests in the Miriam Pulliam Conference Center in the Disability Empowerment Center at 5025 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85094. The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. and concluded at 1:00 p.m. It can
only be said that it was phabulous
phantistic phun!
Our keynote speaker was, Micki Minner, currently President of Polio Epic, our sister organization in Tucson. Micki provided an array of very interesting information about polio and post-polio syndrome, which we all found invaluable. Micki presented a PowerPoint presentation that was fascinating, current and fast-moving. Micki entertained questions from the audience following her presentation.
Central Phoenix Chapter
The Central Phoenix chapter meets on the
Second Thursday of the month from 1:00 to
around 3:00 p.m. On Thursday, September
13, 2012, the group will meet and eat at the
Village Inn Restaurant, located at 4040 E.
Bell Road in Phoenix. The location of the
October meeting will be determined at the
September meeting. Please contact Pam
Harper, (602) 281-2840, or email
[email protected], to make reservations and
for information on future meeting schedules.
East Valley Chapter
The East Valley chapter meets and eats at
1:00 p.m. On the 3rd Wednesday of each
month.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2012, The group
will meet at Iguana Mack’s Roadhouse.
located at 3355 N. Alma School Road in
Chandler, just south of Knox Road.
On Wednesday, September 19, 2012, the
group will meet at the Islamorada Fish
Camp, inside Bass Pro at 1133 N. Dobson
Road in Mesa. Wednesday, October 17,
2012, the meeting will be held at C-FU
Gourmet at 2051 W. Warner Road, #13 in
Chandler; the southeast corner of Warner
road and Dobson road. Please call advance
reservations to Jane Crawford at (480) 899-
5857 or email to Jane at [email protected].
Scottsdale Chapter
The Scottsdale chapter meets on the first
Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. The
group will not meet on Thursday, August
2nd, 2012. The Thursday, September 6,
2012, at Olive Garden Restaurant, 3380
N. Scottsdale Road, the southwest corner of
Scottsdale Road and Osborn road. On
Thursday, October 4, 2012, the group will
meet at the Red Lobster, 3360 N.
Scottsdale road in Scottsdale. It is just south
of Osborn Road. For reservations and
additional information contact Eleanor Coup
at (480) 874-1534.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 5
Marking the 22nd Anniversary of the ADA Posted by Valerie Jarrett on July 26, 2012 at 01:49 PM EDT
Today, I had the pleasure of delivering remarks at the White House
observance of the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). In 1990, America took a bold step forward
when President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law. This
law was based on the fundamental principle that Americans with
disabilities should have the same basic rights and opportunities as
everyone else, and it established America as a world leader on
disability rights.
From the day he took office, President Obama has sought to extend this legacy and fight for
Americans with disabilities. He championed the Affordable Care Act, so insurance companies
can no longer impose lifetime or restrictive annual dollar limits on coverage. And, beginning in
2014, no one will be denied insurance based on a preexisting condition or charged more based
on health status or gender. More than 5 million Americans with disabilities and senior citizens
on Medicare have already received an average of over $600 to help pay for prescription drugs,
and in 2014 30 million people who do not have insurance will be able to obtain it.
We’ve ramped up our enforcement of the landmark ruling in Olmstead v. L.C., in which the
Supreme Court ruled that, under the ADA, the institutional isolation of people with disabilities
was a form of unlawful discrimination. Our efforts have led the Department of Justice to
intervene in more than 40 Olmstead matters in 25 states. Thanks to this work, thousands of
people now live in their communities.
Shoprider Power Chair for Loan: The following Shoprider Power Chair is in like new condition and is available to members of Polio Echo and Polio
Epic Support Groups. There will be a nominal charge of $180.00 to defray the cost of the new batteries installed. For pick-up only in north Phoenix. If you are interested, please contact Roger Buel at 602-493-7242 or send email to
[email protected] to my attention.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 6
POLIO INC. Wadleigh Grants
Tucson, Polio Epic Members only: Could you use up to $500.00 to help get the
Disability help items you need?
Polio Epic, Inc., is accepting applications within its membership for
a grant of financial assistance, of any amount up to $500 in your
lifetime. This program is made possible by a bequest Polio Epic
received from Frank Wadleigh, a long time member and supporter
of our efforts. The purpose of the program is to improve the quality
of life for members, while supporting the overall mission of Polio Epic. Reasons
for requests can be as varied as the members making them, all are seriously
considered. Please view our website at www.polioepic.org for the rules and an
application form or contact:Dave Marsh at 327-3252 or [email protected]
From the Treasurer…Of Polio Epic MEMBERSHIP DUES are DUE!!
LOOK AT YOUR ADDRESS LABEL!
Our 2011-2012 fiscal year ends on August 31, 2012. If your label says 2012 or lower, then you
owe for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. If your label reads 2013 or higher, then you are paid up
through August 2013.
We have many members whom we have not heard from for a very long time. If you are unable
to pay but wish to continue receiving our newsletter, please contact us and we will be happy to
make arrangements.
Contact me if you have any questions at 520-797-6898 or email me at [email protected].
Also, remember that Polio Epic is non-profit and all donations are tax deductible!!
If you want to receive our newsletter via email, be sure to add your email to the dues form and
add Micki’s email to your address book [email protected]
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 7
POLIO INC.
ONATIONS and contributions: L.W. Nichols*
*Donations $100 and over
Top Ten Ways to
Carry on the dream of Justin Dart
By Carolan Quenneville
10. Don’t just get sad! Get active!!!
9. Take charge of your life, even if only a small part of it.
8. Empower others to live up to their god-given Potential
7. Forget the politically correct. Present a clear, Uncluttered message.
6. Present your message with love, praise and Positives.
5. Present your message to the media by letter, phone, Email or up close and personal.
4. Join a local advocacy group - if you don’t have one, Start one.
3. When all else fails. A little militant action can garner Attention to the cause.
2. Register to vote, or register someone else.
1. “Vote as if your life depends on it, because it does!”
- Justin Dart –Polio Survivor and Founder of ADA Disability Advocacy
Save the Date: Combined Polio Echo and Polio Epic meeting in Casa
Grande – October 27th
, 12:00 Noon at Mimi’s Restaurant in Casa Grande,
Promenade Square.
Save the Date: the 2nd Annual Sahaurita Disability Awareness Resource Fair,
which will be held on Saturday, December 1st in Sahaurita.
Save the Date: Rotary International is having another viewing of “Shot heard around the world
– the Untold Pittsburgh Story” Dr. Peter Salk, and Micki Minner will be available for a
Question and Answer Session. The date is October 7th
, 2012, in Yuma, Arizona.
D
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 8
A federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services;
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201
Patient's bill of rights
The affordable care act puts consumers back in charge of their health care. Under
the law, a new “patient’s bill of rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility
they need to make informed choices about their health.
The patient's bill of rights:
Provides coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions: you may be eligible for
health coverage under the pre-existing condition insurance plan.
Protects your choice of doctors: choose the primary care doctor you want from your
plan’s network.
Keeps young adults covered: if you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered
under your parent’s health plan.
Ends lifetime limits on coverage: lifetime limits on most benefits are banned for all new
health insurance plans.
Ends pre-existing condition exclusions for children: health plans can no longer limit or
deny benefits to children under 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
Ends arbitrary withdrawals of insurance coverage: insurers can no longer cancel your
coverage just because you made an honest mistake.
Reviews premium increases: insurance companies must now publicly justify any
unreasonable rate hikes.
Helps you get the most from your premium dollars: your premium dollars must be
spent primarily on health care – not administrative costs.
Restricts annual dollar limits on coverage: annual limits on your health benefits will be
phased out by 2014.
Removes insurance company barriers to emergency services: you can seek emergency
care at a hospital outside of your health plan’s network. Since the patient’s bill of rights
was enacted, the affordable care act has provided additional rights and protections.
The health care law:
Covers preventive care at no cost to you: you may be eligible for recommended
preventive health services. No copayment.
Guarantees your right to appeal: you now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider
its denial of payment.
For more information
read a report on the patient’s bill of rights.
find detailed technical and regulatory information on the patient’s bill of rights.
healthcare blog: protecting patients with private insurance.
fact sheet: the affordable care act's new patient's bill of rights.
Use our interactive faq tool to find answers to questions about your rights or ask your
own at answers.healthcare.gov.
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 9
Spinal cord injury research
The latest news and info about what's going on with science and research.
Editors Note: As we all know, the Polio
virus destroys the Motor Axons. The U of
California, San Diego and Dr. Lu, have
been able to regenerate the motor axons in
animals that have had long-term paralysis.
This might be the wave of the future.
Below I have excerpted the article.
Successful regeneration; animals got worse
--posted by Sam Maddox Friday, June 15,
2012 --Motor axons are long nerve cables,
or processes, that start in brain cells, or
neurons, and course the spinal cord to form
synapses (connections) with muscle. Brain
says move, message goes down the motor
axon to the motor, muscle fires. Of course
spinal cord injury destroys these axons; the
mother nerve cell survives, up in the brain
stem. But the broken cable cuts off brain-
to-muscle control, which leads to paralysis.
There are indeed ways to help these axons.
Using a combination of strategies, motor
axons can be rebooted, they can grow along
a cellular bridge across the scarred-up
lesion site, they can overcome inhibitory
roadblocks, and once they get a whiff of an
irresistible chemical allure below them,
they are indeed able to form synapses with
muscle units. This finding is supported by a
compelling paper that came out this week
from the Mark Tuszynski lab at the
University of California, San Dego, “motor
axonal regeneration after partial and
complete spinal cord transection.”I spoke
with Pengzhe (Paul) Llu, Ph.D., the lead
author of the paper. In the eyes of the
research team, the paper is an
unprecedented success. “a lot of people
claim motor axon regeneration – most of
them go around the lesion because it is an
incomplete lesion. There may be some
growth but nobody has shown that a motor
axon can penetrate the lesion site and go to
the other side. With our motor axon bridge
and combinatory treatment, we are the first
to do that.”
Lu said it was important to use a complete
transection model -- to remove any doubt
that axons moving across the lesion were
not there already. His results showed axons
that came from the brain, crossed the
damaged area, and hooked up below.
Lu is one of a handful of scientists working
on spinal cord research who is informed by
his own spinal cord injury. About 15 years
ago he was a post-doc in molecular biology
at UC Davis; he had a car accident and
became paraplegic. Newly motivated, he
looked for an SCI research lab, contacted
Tuszynski and has been there 14 years.
Most of that time has been spent studying
motor axon regeneration. In 2009, Lu was
on a team that showed motor axon
regeneration in a chronic model of SCI, as
long as 15 months post-injury: “combined
intrinsic and extrinsic neuronal mechanisms
facilitate bridging axonal regeneration one
year after spinal cord injury.” Back to the
new paper, which builds directly on the
previous work. This one is an acute model
but certainly has implications for the
chronic SCI community. Said Lu,
“anatomically this study was very
successful. Other scientists have said they
can grow motor axons but only along a
ramp, as in a roadway. They are not able to
get off the ramp. My paper, this study, I
believe it is the first real experiment to
show we can get an axon off the ramp. We
achieved success with a motor axon bridge.
Our next direction is how to maximize the
effect.”
ALPS – Arizona League of Polio Survivors Page 10
Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of the post-polio syndrome: sustained effects on
quality of life variables and cytokine expression after one year follow up Henrik Gonzalez, Mohsen Khademi, Kristian Borg and Tomas Olsson
Journal of neuroinflammation 2012, 9:167 doi:10.1186/1742-2094-9-167
Published: 9 july 2012
Abstract (provisional) -- Background
Expression of inflammatory cytokines in
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has led to the hypothesis of
intrathecal chronic inflammation to explain the
denervation observed in post-polio syndrome (PPS).
It has been shown that therapy with intravenous
immunoglobulin (IVIG) improves physical
performance and dampens down the inflammatory
process at 6 months in pps patients. We here examined the effects of IVIG on cytokine
expression and clinical outcome one year after IVIG treatment.
Methods
From a previous study with 135 PPS patients included, 41 patients were further evaluated
before un-blinding for one year (21 placebo and 20 treated with IVIG, Xepol(r) 50 mg/ml), and
were assessed for clinical variables by performing the short form-36 survey (SF-36)
questionnaire assessment, the 6 minute walk distance test (6mwt) and registering pain level by
visual analogue scale (VAS) after IVIG treatment. A separate cohort of 37 PPS patients went
through lumbar puncture (LP) at baseline and 20 patients, treated with IVIG, repeated the LP
one year later. Thirty patients affected with other neurological diseases (OND) were used as
control group. Inflammatory Cytokines TNF, TGFbeta, IFNGamma, IL-23, IL-13 and IL-10
were measured in blood cells and CSF cells with RT-PCR.
Results
Scores of the physical components of SF-36 were significantly higher at the one year follow up
time-point in the IVIG-treated patients when compared to baseline as well as to the control
subjects . Pain VAS score and 6mwt improved significantly in the IVIG-treated patients when
compared with baseline relative expression of TNF and IFN-gamma in both PBMCS and CSF
from PPS patients were increased compared to OND subjects at baseline (p<0.05). One year
after IVIG-treatment a decreased expression of IFN-gamma and IL23 was found in CSF of PPS
patients, while anti-inflammatory IL-13 was increased (p<0.05).
Conclusions
IVIG has effects on relevant Quality of Life (QOL) variables and inflammatory cytokines up to
one year in patients with PPS. This gives a basis for scheduling IVIG in upcoming trials with
this therapy
POLIO ECHO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President, Bradford “Brad” Dowden [email protected]
(480) 370-8986
Vice President, Tom Ringhofer [email protected]
Secretary, Kathy Bollinger [email protected]
Treasurer and Webmaster, Roger Buel [email protected] (602) 493-7242
Nancy Burkhart, Director [email protected]
Pamela Harper, Past President-Phx Chapter [email protected] (602) 281-2840
Susan Wynn, Director [email protected]
Joe & Joan DeRenzis, East Valley Chapter [email protected]
Jane Crawford, East Valley Chapter [email protected] (480) 899-5857
Eleanor Coup, Scottsdale Chapter [email protected] (480) 874-1534
POLIO EPIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS President, Micki Minner [email protected]
520-743-1556
Vice President, CeCe Axton [email protected] 520-495-5122
Secretary, Lorna Kenney [email protected] 520-744-7435
Treasurer, Nannoe Westbrook [email protected] 520-797-6898
Marty Baldwin [email protected]
520-795-6157
Frank Frisina [email protected] 520-327-3252
Virginia Hanson [email protected] 520-292-0652
Kay Mason 520-270-1751 520-270-1751
Dave Marsh [email protected]
520-327-3252
Barbara Stough [email protected] 520-887-4731
Judy Taylor [email protected]
520-401-5992
Joanne Yager [email protected]
520-296-1471
PPOOLLIIOO EECCHHOO - MEMBERSHIP FORM - PPOOLLIIOO EEPPIICC
Type: Renewal New Has your address changed? No Yes
Name_______________________________________Spouse/Partner_______________________Date__________
Address____________________________________________________ Phone (______)_________________________
City______________________________________State____________Zip_________________-__________
If you want The newsletter via email:___________________________________________
(Please print EMAIL ADDRESS clearly)
_____I am UNABLE TO PAY dues at this time, but wish to continue my membership
and receive the newsletter.
_____Please remove my name from the mailing list. I no longer wish to receive
the newsletter.
_____Check here if you do not want your name, address, phone number and
email listed in the POLIO DIRECTORY
Enclosed is membership fee of $10.00 per person for one calendar year (2012-2013)
Amount enclosed for membership $______________________
Amount enclosed for charitable donation $______________________
Total enclosed $______________________
CChheecckk
llaabbeell – PPHHXX =Phoenix, Polio Echo, Inc. P.O. Box 61024, Phoenix, AZ 85082-1024
TTUUSS = Tucson, Polio Epic, Inc. P.O. Box 17556, Tucson, AZ 85731-7556
Please make check payable to appropriate Polio Support group and send to address listed above.
Thank You for Your Support!
What a great idea from our friend in New York, Mike Kossove! I have a friend who used her solar lights inside at night when her current was off during the hurricane. She stuck them in a jar or bottle and said they gave off plenty of 'free
light'. She put one in each room and would put them back outside in the daytime and bring them in at night as long as the current was off. They are safe to use and cheaper than batteries. Bring in a solar light one night and test it. Due to a thunderstorm, we lost power for about 5 hours. We were scrambling around in the
darkness, looking for matches, candles, flashlights, etc. We looked outside, and noticed our solar lights shining brightly all around our patio, stairs, dock, etc. They were beautiful. My wife walked outside, and brought several of the solar lights inside. We stuck the solar light pipes into plastic drink bottles containers and they made the nicest, brightest, safest, lighting you could ever imagine. The lights we have fit into the small (20 oz.) water bottles and they also fit into most of the larger liter bottles. If you need a weight in the plastic bottle to keep them from tipping over, you can put a few of the pretty colorful "flat marbles" that they put in aquariums, and vases. (you can also use sand, aquarium gravel, etc., whatever you have available). The lights we have were perfect inside our home. They burn all night long if you need them. The next day, you just take your solar lights back outside and they will instantly recharge and be ready for you to use again any time you need them. Perfect for power outages, hurricanes, etc. I never thought of it, and now you don't have to.